Anyone else got Poor brakes on their Spyder? Any fixes?

[MrandMsH]

I have had numerous 2-wheelers and now my first Can-Am, which is a 2023 Spyder RT. I am disappointed in the feel and stopping power of the brakes, compared to my motorcycles. Does anyone else experience this, and is there a good fix for it?

[BajaRon]

It would help to know what year and model Spyder you have and what brake pads are fitted.

[MrandMsH]

It is a 2023 Spyder RT Limited, with about 1,000 miles on it, with the stock brakes.

[Snoking1127]

It should stop on a dime and give you 8 or 9 cents back!!!!

[Allen42]

It should stop on a dime and give you 8 or 9 cents back!!!!

I sort of agree. Yes, the bike is heavier than most of the two wheelers, so it takes longer to gently come to a stop, but if you want to, and press on the brakes hard enough, you will stop practically immediately. I have had my backseat bang into me on many an occasion when she wasn't ready for a harder than normal brake. And if you read the posts about the drop away floorboard, you will find people that have cracked face-shields, chipped teeth, etc. Your bike should be able to stop VERY quickly.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

I have had numerous 2-wheelers and now my first Can-Am, which is a 2023 Spyder RT. I am disappointed in the feel and stopping power of the brakes, compared to my motorcycles. Does anyone else experience this, and is there a good fix for it?

New Spyder. New pads. New rotors. Did you bed them in yet? My brakes will lift me off the seat hardly trying.

[Jetfixer]

I sort of agree. Yes, the bike is heavier than most of the two wheelers, so it takes longer to gently come to a stop, but if you want to, and press on the brakes hard enough, you will stop practically immediately. I have had my backseat bang into me on many an occasion when she wasn't ready for a harder than normal brake. And if you read the posts about the drop away floorboard, you will find people that have cracked face-shields, chipped teeth, etc. Your bike should be able to stop VERY quickly.

You are correct about everything except the floorboard. The breakaway floorboard is no longer on RT's 2020 and newer.

[Dasmoetorhead]

All I know is that my F3S stops better and faster than any vehicle I've ever owned. Excellent brakes.

[Allen42]

The breakaway floorboard is no longer on RT's 2020 and newer.

Thanks, did not know that. I can't muster up the courage yet to try mine!

[CloverHillCrawler]

Have you checked the fluid level in your master cylinder?

Are the brakes mushy and don't feel like they are grabbing?

Maybe the brake lines have air in them and need to be bled?

[baxter]

As you stated, "first Spyder". Ride more and get used to the characteristics that this bike has as to other bikes. Too early to make conclusions and compare it to "other" bikes yet.

[Navydad]

Most of my 50 years on bikes has been on sport touring and so called sport bikes. I did have a Wing and a Valkyrie during those years, but didn't really care for either. While my Spyder RT does have good brakes it doesn't come close to stopping as well as my motorcycles did. I attribute that to the sport tourers being lighter and equipped with very performance oriented brakes. One huge plus for my RT is that it is very stable during heavy braking.

[Snoking1127]

I hit a scale on the Oregon coast the other day on a six-day ride from AZ to Wa. Me, the trike, and full storage compartments weighed in at 1350 lbs. Braking still seemed good.

[Knizar]

I have had numerous 2-wheelers and now my first Can-Am, which is a 2023 Spyder RT. I am disappointed in the feel and stopping power of the brakes, compared to my motorcycles. Does anyone else experience this, and is there a good fix for it?

I have absolutely NO Complaints!
I trust the brakes on MY Spyder!

but,

I'm older now, and a bit wiser, and I drive like I have something to LIVE 4!

Bill

[KX5062]

I agree with Navydad. If you compare it to a higher end motorcycle, they do feel somewhat wooden and vague. Very automotive like, but not mushy, like air in the lines. However, if you apply the brakes vigorously, then it becomes much sharper and stops the bike well.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Just some thoughts about BRAKING performance ...... Spyders have a large advantage over TWO wheel MTC's .... the amount of rubber in contact with the road surface is IMHO the deciding factor. .... The rear tire alone has more contact than Both tires on a two wheel machine. All Spyders have ABS and most two wheelers don't ( I could be wrong on that ). .... If the Spyder tires are properly inflated using veh. weight as the determining factor ( for Auto tires ) then I don't think a two wheeler can stop quicker .....Mike

[Snoking1127]

Just some thoughts about BRAKING performance ...... Spyders have a large advantage over TWO wheel MTC's .... the amount of rubber in contact with the road surface is IMHO the deciding factor. .... The rear tire alone has more contact than Both tires on a two wheel machine. All Spyders have ABS and most two wheelers don't ( I could be wrong on that ). .... If the Spyder tires are properly inflated using veh. weight as the determining factor ( for Auto tires ) then I don't think a two wheeler can stop quicker .....Mike

Or straighter!

[Bunson]

I agree that flat out stopping power of the brakes is very good at a minimum. My problem is me. I find it difficult to not induce some input to the handlebars on one side or the other which causes the bike to dart. The steering is rather quick and keeping a balanced grip on the bars under hard braking is difficult. I know it's me because if I take my hands off the bars first she stops straight. I thought of just raising my hands and covering my eyes might to the trick but that idea didn't go well with the wife.

[EdMat]

. I thought of just raising my hands and covering my eyes might to the trick but that idea didn't go well with the wife.

You just painted a picture in my mind that I'm not sure will go away any time soon.

[Allen42]

I thought of just raising my hands and covering my eyes might to the trick but that idea didn't go well with the wife.

This takes me back all the way to a high school date who actually did this twice when driving us around in her car one day. If she wasn't so pretty, I would have broken up with her on the spot. As it was, I never let her drive again, and we broke up anyway... she wasn't ... uh ... mentally stimulating.

[Navydad]

Just some thoughts about BRAKING performance ...... Spyders have a large advantage over TWO wheel MTC's .... the amount of rubber in contact with the road surface is IMHO the deciding factor. .... The rear tire alone has more contact than Both tires on a two wheel machine. All Spyders have ABS and most two wheelers don't ( I could be wrong on that ). .... If the Spyder tires are properly inflated using veh. weight as the determining factor ( for Auto tires ) then I don't think a two wheeler can stop quicker .....Mike

Pretty hard to buy a two wheeler without ABS and traction control these days. Pretty much been standard equipment for several years now. There are a few exceptions, but that number is shrinking quickly. Any of my current two wheelers can stop shorter than my 15 RT, but as I said most of my years of riding has been on sport style machines. A lot depends on what type of machine you are used to and the skill of the rider. Fella gets a new two wheeler and starts practicing wheelies. I always got a new one and started practicing stopping.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Pretty hard to buy a two wheeler without ABS and traction control these days. Pretty much been standard equipment for several years now. There are a few exceptions, but that number is shrinking quickly. Any of my current two wheelers can stop shorter than my 15 RT, but as I said most of my years of riding has been on sport style machines. A lot depends on what type of machine you are used to and the skill of the rider. Fella gets a new two wheeler and starts practicing wheelies. I always got a new one and started practicing stopping.

Well my TWO wheeler days are long behind ..... I'll see what I can find about TWO wheel braking distances & see what is said about the Spyders .....Mike

[racoon]

How about just driving with a lighter touch on the grips.

It's not like it goes faster when you strangle the grips.

[Bunson]

It's not the grip. It's the momentum of your upper body being slung forward.

[PMK]

I have had numerous 2-wheelers and now my first Can-Am, which is a 2023 Spyder RT. I am disappointed in the feel and stopping power of the brakes, compared to my motorcycles. Does anyone else experience this, and is there a good fix for it?

If the brake pedal is firm, without a soft feel, and the brakes are not acceptable, your 23 is probably still under warranty. Get a qualified shop or another Spyder owner you trust to evaluate and ensure they are acceptable.

Brakes are a definite safety item. Be sure they work correctly.